We’ve all seen those photos: the person working from their laptop on the beach, freelancing whilst surrounded by sun, sea and sand. Well that may be achievable in the not-too-distant future in Barbados. Friday (11.11.11) was their target date to become the first Wi-Fi-wide island.

The initiative, championed by the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation (BEF), is just one in a range of programmes to make the country the world’s entrepreneurial hub by 2020, and a very significant one.

We met with Chris Harper, Programme Manager of the BEF a while back, who explained that the provision of free education in Barbados has contributed to its 99.7% literacy rate and now it’s time to translate that to digital literacy. The aim is to encourage companies and other public spaces to open up their Wi-Fi so that anyone, anywhere on the island can get onto the web at any time, including in outdoor spaces. The initiative catchphrase “From Rum Shop to Bus Stop” is reflective of Barbados’ culture, but doesn’t mean there is any less focus on achieving what can be gained with island-wide free Wi-Fi access.

Map from WifiSpottr showing Wi-Fi spots in Barbados. Many of the spots also cover their surrounding areas.

Considering how relatively easy and low-cost it can now be to set up an online presence, and participate in conversations online, free Wi-Fi access will mean that previously untapped entrepreneurial talent can be exposed to a global knowledge bank and market providing them with many opportunities for staying up-to-date, connecting and collaborating with those across the world. The digital divide will become narrower as more people, regardless of economic background will be able to get online to do business, which for many will be through their mobile devices.  And Barbados also becomes a more attractive place internationally, as both a holiday and business destination.

The initiative has meant that Barbados has moved from about 1% free wireless access to almost 75% 60% within a year. Most of this success has been dependant on the great culture of sharing, together with support from Government, the public and private sectors and telecommunications providers. The Free Wi-Fi Barbados? Wi-Not? campaign is run entirely by volunteers, and includes the WiFiSpottr app which maps Wi-Fi spots across the island.

Although the project is still in relatively early stages, the map shows the great progress that has been made, and the campaign has attracted support from over 16000+ people on Facebook – but this only shows those that already have some kind of access to the web.  The Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation is now working with public organisations such as community centres, demonstrating that making people aware of the possibilities provided by digital literacy and internet access is just as important as the actual connectivity.

Read the official press release here